The following night, Pierre had taken Demetrius to see Il Muto as promised. Demetrius enjoyed getting to know Pierre.

   "How was the opera?" Bella asked when Demetrius returned home.

   "Just as wonderful as I remember it," Demetrius replied with a big grin.

   "What about Pierre? Is he nice? Is he good enough to be dating my little sister?" Gustave questioned.

   "Pierre's a great person. He's definitely the perfect guy for Aunt Catherine."

   "The perfect guy for her, eh? No such thing. Nobody's good enough for my little sister."

   "Well, he's as close as it gets. He really loves her. I can tell."

   "Maybe I should introduce him to my friend Mr. Punjab Lasso."

   "Gustave!" Bella exclaimed. "You try my patience with this nonsense. And you're starting to sound like your father."

   "I insist that Pierre isn't good enough," Gustave persisted.

   "Are you trying to vex me? Really, Gustave, in my condition-"

   "In your condition?" Gustave cut her off. "Darling, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

   "What's going on, Mother?" Demetrius asked in confusion.

   "Gustave, Demetrius, I'm pregnant," Bella announced.

   Gustave pulled his wife in close and gave her a passionate kiss. "Are you okay? Do you need something? Do you need water? Do you need to be taken to the hospital?"

   Bella laughed. "Gustave, relax. I'm perfectly fine."

   "Darling, you're pregnant. I can believe it. You're pregnant," Gustave exclaimed.

   "I know. I can't believe it either," Bella replied.

   "When did you find out?"

   "Just yesterday. Should we tell your family?"

   "Of course. Mother! Father! Catherine! Apollo! Aphrodite!  Come here!" Gustave called.

   "What is it, Darling?" Christine asked.

   "Yes, Son?" Erik questioned.

   "What do you want now, Gustave?" Catherine moaned.

   "This better be good," the twins said in unison.

   "Should you tell them or should I?" Gustave whispered.

   "Well? What's going on?" Catherine asked impatiently.

   "You tell them," Bella whispered back to Gustave.

   "Everyone, Bella is pregnant," Gustave announced.

   The room erupted in cries of excitement from the children and Erik and Christine's congratulations. It came as a complete surprise to everyone, including Bella.
   Just the day before, she went to the doctor's just for a routine examination and came out with the news that she was pregnant.
   After the excitement died down a little, Gustave and Bella went out for some fresh air.

   "Exactly how far along are you?" Gustave asked.

   "About two months," Bella replied.

   "Two months?" Gustave exclaimed. "You were two months pregnant and you didn't even know?"

   "I mean, I had a thought that maybe I was, but I wasn't sure, so I didn't tell you," Bella explained.

   "What made you think you were pregnant?"

   "The other day I was craving strawberries."

   "But you hate strawberries."

   "Exactly. I hate strawberries, but when I was pregnant with Demetrius, I loved them."

   "Hm," Gustave thought. "Interesting."